Page 282 - Solar Power in Building Design The Engineer's Complete Design Resource

9

ECONOMICS OF SOLAR

POWER SYSTEMS

Introduction

Perhaps the most important task of a solar power engineer is to conduct preliminary
engineering and financial feasibility studies, which are necessary for establishing an
actual project design. The essence of the feasibility study is to evaluate and estimate
the power generation and cost of installation for the life span of the project. The
feasibility study is conducted as a first step in determining the limitations of the solar
project’s power production and return on investment, without expending a substantial
amount of engineering and labor effort. The steps needed to conduct the preliminary
engineering and financial study are presented in this chapter.

Preliminary Engineering Design

Conduct a field survey of the existing roof or mounting area. For new projects,
review the available roof-mount area and mounting landscape. Care must be taken
to ensure that there are no mechanical, construction, or natural structures that could
cast a shadow on the solar panels. Shade from trees and sap drops could create an
unwanted loss of energy production. One of the solar PV modules in a chain, when
shaded, could act as a resistive element that will alter the current and voltage output
of the whole array.
Always consult with the architect to ensure that installation of solar panels will not
interfere with the roof-mount solar window, vents, and air-conditioning unit ductwork.
The architect must also take into consideration roof penetrations, installed weight,
anchoring, and seismic requirements.
After establishing solar power area clearances, the solar power designer must prepare
a set of electronic templates representing standard array configuration assemblies. Solar

249
Copyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Click here for terms of use.